This year's clothing connection will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 23.

Volunteers have worked for months sorting men's, women's and children's clothing, shoes, baby supplies and linens by sizes and colors.

"It takes so much time to sort it all," said Dion.

"The sooner we get all the clothing, the easier it's going to be for all the volunteers."

Drop off gently-used clothing, shoes, linens and baby equipment (no toys) on Sunday mornings or between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday to Lowcountry Community Church, located at 810 Buckwalter Parkway, across from Bluffton High School. The event will happen concurrently at the Hilton Head campus of LCC, at 21 Office Park Road, Suite 1, and donations are being accepted there as well.

Church organizers estimated that 2,500 people attended last year's November event, up from 1,500 the year before.

Last year attendees began to line up before 6 a.m. Each person was given a large trash bag and allowed to fill it. Fifty people were allowed inside the church at a time.

"This isn't just for people who are in dire need," said Dion. "It's a swap. Especially in children's clothes, there are some they barely wear."

Church volunteers encourage everyone to clean out their closets sooner rather than later.

"We've been working on it for months," Dion said. Already four storage lockers are full, and as donations come in they are sorted, categorized, and broken down by size. The event is part of a larger "make-a-difference weekend" Oct. 22-24. With the economy a challenge for the lion's share of families, the connection is a chance for everyone to eliminate waste and come home with duds new to them.

"The day of the event, we'll bring these boxes out," said Dion. "It's a great, great cause."

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